July through October

It's been a busy, but beautiful last four months for the Ingram Gang.  In July, we began saying our goodbyes to friends and family, had many "lasts" in Amarillo, and geared up for our move to Lubbock.  Pictures came off the walls, beds were taken apart, and closets transitioned to boxes in the process.  Best of all, we had movers to do the majority of the work.  And as a pregnant momma of three who was more concerned about going to the pool and having dinners with friends, I was more thankful than you know to have someone do that leg of the work.  On August 3rd, we closed on both houses and I made the drive (solo, I might add) to Lubbock {while Brad and the kids stayed behind for a few days} to begin turning our new house into our home.  Nineteen gallons of paint later and we were watching our belongings be unloaded off of the moving truck into a big, heaping mess. Moving is fun and invigorating, but it's tough stuff.  And my type A inner girl gets a little gussied up when I have to go into overdrive.  Since mid-August, we've hit the ground running in our new city.  Honestly, I naively expected a slower pace and a quieter life here, at least for a few months, but that hasn't been the case.  Our kids quickly met all of the neighborhood kiddos and they have loved the numerous hours they've logged playing with their new friends.  We have had busy days filled with busy evenings and lots of late night talks with new friends.  Things with the church are moving along beautifully.  We held Vision Nights, gatherings, dinners and home groups that have made me so excited for all that's to come.  The Lord is moving in a powerful way among people in Lubbock and it's a fun adventure to be in the middle of.  So many hearts are being drawn to Hillside and it's an act that only could be done by the hand of God, no man could make the things we've seen happen.  We have new schools and teachers and doctors and grocery stores and coffee shops and everything new that comes along with a move.  But we have loved every "new" we have encountered.  We live within a mile of a Taco Villa, Chic-fil-a, United, Baskin Robbins, and Walmart with Target almost as close... what more could a pregnant girl need?  I get some odd thrill from turning an empty house into a functioning home for my family, so I've loved that part of the process.  I think back over the past few months and though short, they are some of my most favorite life moments.  We have had the blessing of pulling away from all that's familiar and have been placed in the middle of many unfamiliar things.  Those moments make you enjoy the people you are journeying with even more.  Brad has been the most amazing leader for us during this time.  He has cheered me on in my venture for new relationships and all of my other "life happenings" and he has been a constant for our children.  We've been intentional in including them in so many of the talks we've had about the Lord's call for our family to come here and they have been such amazing little leaders for us and one another.  The Lord has been so, so gracious to us in this.  We will never forget the ease and joy that he has let accompany this journey.  As we look to coming months and all they hold: a new baby, holidays, moving into our new church building and the official launch of Hillside Christian Church Lubbock, I find myself caught in a raging storm of awe and gratitude.  It hasn't been flawless and it hasn't been perfect, but it's from the Lord and; therefore, it. is. good. "The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with JOY!" 

Growing: A Church and A Baby

Hi, blog. 

Since last writing, much has changed in the lives of our family.  Namely, we are moving and having a baby...quite simultaneously, I might add.

A quick 4-1-1:

Some months ago, Brad and I were approached about the possibility of our church launching another campus.  We have been a multi-site church for quite some time now and we knew of the plans to continue to plant sites with the purpose of reaching people.  Talk began of a campus that would be some 120 miles away in a little town by the name of Lubbock, TX.  Of course, as former Red Raiders, we have a fond place in our heart for the city that grew us up so much.  Brad and I were surprised by the talk, but excited for the changes coming to our church.  Over time, talk became more than just talk and real steps were taken for Hillside Lubbock to become a reality.  Long story short, we knew the Lord was calling us {Brad and I} to this journey.  In recent months, we have sold our house, bought a house, found doctors, researched school districts, sough out pre-schools, and done all of the other logistical aspects that a move entails.  Right now, we are less than 6 weeks from our move.  We are nervous and excited and eager and humble and thankful for all that is to come. Brad will be the campus pastor and he is transitioning out of his current role and into this role that fits his giftings so well.  Already, this has been an adventure and we look forward to the adventure that awaits us.  A few fun facts: they have already assembled their staff and it's full of wonderfully fun Godly people and my mom is moving to Lubbock, too.  So we will have family near by again.

In the midst of decisions and selling our house we were shockingly excited to learn that baby #4 would be joining our family.  Noah, Kayt, and Emmy are so, SO excited to have a baby brother or sister.  Brad and I, too, are thrilled.  Really, four children was the number we both envisioned for our family and we love the idea of doing things that are non-traditional like having a larger than normal family, but... we were content with our three.  So you can imagine our thoughts when we found out baby #4 would be joining our family only a few short weeks before the Lubbock campus launches.  We are both really excited and feel confident in the Lord's timing and steps for our family.  It feels really great, as a mother, to know that this means completion for us.  It's freed me up to enjoy so much of the first 15 weeks of pregnancy and to cherish each moment.  

That's what we've been up to in the last six months.  

After two emails from people I don't know and a few encouraging words from my husband, I felt drawn back to this blog.  I so enjoy looking back over the last years of our life in writing and I believe that this will be a great way for me to document the Lord's faithfulness during a transitional time in our lives.  

Join me, if you will...  

As a church campus launches right before our eyes and a baby grows in our hearts and my belly.  Not to mention all of the other fun and wild moments along the way!